Romance of True Love.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 17, 22 April 1908, Page 61

Romance of True Love.

A strange romance surrounds a fine oldfashioned mansion in the centre of Milton Regis, near Sittingbourne, Kent, which has for many years been going to rack and ruin through the neglect of its owners. It begins with a story of a young woman’s unrequited love, followed by a pathetic, lonely comradeship between a brother and sister, ami ended last week-end in the removal of the lady to an asylum. For many years (says the “Daily Chronicle”) Miss Eleanor Hinde and Mr John Hinde, the only surviving children of the late Mr Robert Hinde, solicitor, Milton Regis, have been shut up in the old mansion, which occupies a commanding site on the hill leading to Milton's High-street. At his death Mr Hinde, who had built up a lucrative practice, bequeathed the stately home to his two children. Miss Hinde, who was a lover of outdoor sports and an expert horsewoman, was one of the most popular ladies following hounds in the neighbourhood. The family had long been settled in the county, and Was represented at all social functions. After the death of their father the two young people continued to mix in society. As a young woman, Miss Hinde was of prepossessing appearance, and merry disposition. and had many admirers. The man, however, who found favour in her eyes did not return her love, and from the day that she discovered this, “the whole current of her being” was changed. No longer did she follow the hounds. She withdrew to her home, where she and her brother lived, under the care of an aunt. Many years agio the aunt died, but Miss Hinde and her brother continued to live together in the old home. Their eccentricities were the talk of the neighbourhood. About throe years ago Miss Hinde became still more strange. She had a disagreement with her brother, whom she turned out of the house, and then became a complete recluse. At nightfall Miss Hinde regularly walked to the churchyard—nearly a mile distant — to visit her father’s grave, and on her return she quickly shut herself in as if afraid some one in the darkness might get a peep inside. The old house got out of repair. The front windows were wantonly broken by boys, with the result that the agents in charge of the family affairs boarded them up. The local urban council intervened, however, on sanitary grounds, and the house was put into proper order. Miss Hinde used to have her food placed outside the back door by an old servant of the family, and when unobserved she snatched the food away. Finding on one occasion that a quantity of food had not been touched, her brother became apprehensive. and a medical man was summoned. Forcing an entrance into the house it was discovered that Miss Hinde was ill, and suffering from neglect ami want of nourishment. After treatment the lady's case was brought to the notice of the Lunacy Commissioners. The sequel was that, acting under instructions, a medical superintendent of a lunatic asylum, accompanied by Superintendent Crowhurst. the house. The brother, who had returned, resented their approach, but his opposition was overcome. The door of Hie house was forced and Miss Hinde was certified to be unfit to be left alone. Armed with an order from the Lord Chancellor. the police superintendent and the relieving officer, together with a police constable, paid another visit to (lie house. Miss Hinde was in a condition of sad neglect, and excitedly flourished a razor, of which she was instantly dispossessed. Notwithstanding the strong opposition of her brother she was driven to the workhouse, where she was certified by a magistrate to be insane, and removed to Chatham Asylum. During her detention nt this institution, Miss Hinde has made considerable improvement Her conversation is sufficiently sane to warrant the belief that she will be released before long. The mansion at Milton. however, which is luxuriously furnished, rema Ins closed.